January 6th marks a festival which on the church calendar is known as “Epiphany.” Were you to look up “epiphany” in the dictionary, you would find something like this: “An appearance or manifestation, as of a deity.” In other words, if God shows himself to you, that is an epiphany.
However, on the church calendar, Epiphany marks a very specific event: The coming of the wise men – the Magi - to worship the infant Jesus. The main symbol for the season is the star which proclaims the appearance of the Son of God.
This year, as often happens, Epiphany doesn’t fall on a Sunday, and so we will not have a worship service that specifically celebrates the coming of the wise men. Instead, the celebration falls in between the second Sunday of Christmas and the Baptism of our Lord. Still, we remember that this was far more than a quick trip that took place all in one day. In fact, it may have taken the Magi as long as two years to reach Bethlehem (cf. Mt. 2:16).
Although there really isn’t that much that we know about the Magi, there sure is a lot that we can learn from them. For one thing, they put an amazing amount of time and effort into coming to worship Jesus the Messiah.
The Magi most likely traveled from Persia or Media, meaning that they would have traveled either through the desert or around it. They brought with them both expensive and symbolic gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Their journey lasted a minimum of a few months and possibly more than a year. Can you imagine spending this much time and energy and money in order to come and worship?
Yet, these Magi had an amazing grasp of what is most important. They would have been considered pagans by most Jewish people, yet here they were, coming to worship the one who was born to be king of the Jews! No wonder they are referred to as “wise.” Somehow they knew that Jesus did not come only for the Jewish people, but for all people. They knew that his birth was for them, too, and they knew that they simply had to come and worship.
As I said, there is a lot that we can learn from them! It seems to me that their focus on that star over Bethlehem has a lot to teach us, too. No matter how long their journey took – no matter how many distractions or problems or road-blocks they encountered along the way – no matter the cost, their focus remained on that star. They knew that it would lead them to the place where the Messiah would be found.
During this festival and this season of Epiphany, we, too, are invited to “follow that star.” Just as the Magi kept their focus on that star, so we are invited to keep our focus on Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. We, too, have many distractions and problems and road-blocks that we encounter along the way. Yet, when our focus remains on Jesus, we do not lose sight of what is really most important.
Most things in this world will come and go – very little will last into eternity. However, Jesus brings with him eternal life – life which begins now and lasts into eternity. Rest in his life and his love, for these are the things that matter.
In Christ,
Pastor Lynne Hutchison
